P-phenylene Ring Research Articles

Dibenzothiophene-Containing Thiacarbaporphyrinoids.

A new type of expanded dibenzothiophene-containing thiacarbaporphyrinoid containing one dibenzothiophene, two p-phenylene, one thiophene, and two pyrrole rings connected via four meso carbons and two direct bonds was synthesized over a sequence of six steps starting with commercially available dibenzothiophene. The X-ray structure obtained for one of the macrocycles revealed that the macrocycle was very nonplanar and the two p-phenylene rings and dibenzothiophene unit were deviated from the mean plane, whereas the thiophene ring attained inverted conformation and was facing toward outside the macrocyclic core. The X-ray structure also revealed that the dibenzothiophene unit of the macrocycle maintained its π-electron delocalization and did not extend the π-electron delocalization with the rest of the macrocycle, and the effective π-conjugation was present only in the lower part of the macrocyclic core, i.e., the thiatripyrrin moiety. The spectral and theoretical studies support the nonaromatic nature of the macrocycles. The macrocycles exhibit one strong absorption band at ∼430 nm and one broad absorption band in the 500-800 nm region, which were bathochromically shifted in diprotonated derivatives which absorb strongly in the visible-NIR region. The electrochemical studies indicated the electron-rich nature of the macrocycles and the theoretical studies corroborated the experimental observations.

Synthesis, Spectral, Redox and Theoretical Studies of Stable Nonaromatic Dicarba Dithia Hexaphyrin(2.0.1.1.1.0)s with Two Inverted Thiophenes.

A series of dicarba dithia hexaphyrin(2.0.1.1.1.0)s containing two p-phenylene rings, two thiophene rings, and two pyrrole rings connected via five meso carbons were synthesized by condensing the key precursor, hexapyrrane, which was prepared over a sequence of steps, with the appropriate aromatic aldehyde under acid catalytic conditions followed by alumina chromatographic purification. Detailed one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR studies revealed that the two thiophene rings were inverted and facing outward from the macrocyclic core. Interestingly, one of the inverted thiophene rings adopts a normal orientation in the protonated derivatives of macrocycles generated by addition of trifluoroacetic acid to the appropriate macrocyclic solution. The spectroscopic studies support the non-aromatic nature of macrocycles, and the macrocycles exhibit a distinct sharp band at ∼425 nm along with a broad band in the range of 550-1000 nm, which experienced a red shift with a clear color change in the protonated derivatives. The redox studies showed lower oxidation potentials, indicating their electron-rich nature. The density functional theoretical (DFT) studies showed that the hexaphyrins adopt oval-shaped structures, and time-dependent-DFT (TD-DFT) studies parallelly matched the experimental observations of macrocycles.

Synthesis and Studies of Di(p-Benzi)Decaphyrin and Di(9,10-Anthracenyl)Decaphyrin.

Two novel macrocycles, di(p-benzi)decaphyrin and di(9,10-anthracenyl)decaphyrin have been synthesized by condensing appropriate p-phenylene based pentapyrrane or 9,10-anthracenyl based pentapyrrane with pentafluorobenzaldehyde under acid catalyzed conditions. The pentapyrrane precursors were synthesized over sequence of steps starting with commercially available 1,4-dibromobenzene and 9,10-dibromoanthracene. The decaphyrin macrocycles were freely soluble in common organic solvents and characterized and studied by HR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, absorption, cyclic voltammetry and computational techniques. The 1 H NMR spectra of both decaphyrins were almost similar with very few resonances, indicating their symmetrical nature in solution and the position of chemical shifts of various protons supports nonaromatic nature of decaphyrins. The DFT optimized structures revealed that both decaphyrins showed a doubly twisted figure of eight conformation and the p-phenylene rings in di(p-benzi)decaphyrin and anthracenyl rings in di(9,10-anthracenyl)decaphyrin did not participate in π-delocalization with rest of the respective decaphyrin macrocycle. Both decaphyrins showed sharp intense band in the region of 400-500 nm and a broad band in the region of 600-900 nm. The absorption bands of di(p-benzi)decaphyrin were significantly red shifted compared to di(9,10-anthracenyl)decaphyrin. The protonated derivatives of decaphyrins generated by addition of TFA to the toluene solution of decaphyrins showed distinct changes in colour and absorption spectral bands. The redox studies indicated that both decaphyrins are electron rich and undergo easier oxidations. The electrochemical and computational studies revealed that HOMO-LUMO energy gap was less in di(p-benzi)decaphyrin compared to di(9,10-anthracenyl)decaphyrin supporting the bathochromic shifts of absorption bands in di(p-benzi)decaphyrin. TD-DFT studies were in agreement with the experimental observations.

Role of Alicyclic Conformation-Isomerization in the Photomechanical Performance of Azobenzene-Functionalized Cross-Linked Polyimides Containing Tetra-Substituted Cyclohexane Moieties.

The classical "chair-twist boat-boat" conformational dynamics (CD) of cyclohexane is thermally activated. Here we report on the photoinduced/azobenzene-assisted CD of bilaterally fused cyclohexane moieties contributing to large photomechanical response of cross-linked azobenzene-functionalized polyimides (X-azoPI), based on 1,2,4,5-cyclohexane-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride (CHDA), exhibiting a photobending angle and photogenerated stress, up to ∼90° and 370 kPa, respectively. In contrast, X-azoPI containing planar pyromellitimide (PMDI) or cage-like bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic-diimide (BCDI) show smaller photomechanical responses. The superior photomechanical performance of X-azoPI with constrained cyclohexane-diimide (CHDI) units is attributed to an increased mobility of segments comprising "hinged" p-phenylene rings, azobenzene, and CHDI units in the cross-link sites. Blue light irradiation initiates the motions driven by photoisomerization/reorientation of azobenzenes connected to CHDI units, whose CD is then amplified, leading to longer-range segmental mobility, more local free volume, and culminating in large photoinduced bending. The trapping of redistributed CHDI's stereoisomers in X-azoPI backbone at Troom is implicated for the observed photothermal memory.

Effects of Core Modification on Electronic Properties of para-Benziporphyrins.

In contrast to the nonaromatic meta-benziporphyrins, the para-benziporphyrins possess aromatic character depending on the type of five-membered ring present in the macrocyclic core. The effects of changing the para-benziporphyrinic core from C2N3 to C2NSN, C2NSeN, and C2NTeN by replacing the pyrrole with other five-membered heterocycles such as thiophene, selenophene, and tellurophene on aromatic properties of p-benziporphyrins are described here using spectral, electrochemical, X-ray, and density functional theory (DFT) studies. The missing core-modified p-benziporphyrins with C2NSeN and C2NTeN cores were synthesized by condensing 1 equiv of benzitripyrrane and 1,3-benzene-bis((4-phenyl)methanol with an appropriate diol such as 2,5-bis[(p-tolyl)hyroxymethyl]selenophene and 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)tellurophene under mild acid-catalyzed conditions at room temperature and characterized in detail by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS), one- & two-dimensional NMR, and X-ray crystallography of the one of the macrocycles, Selena p-benziporphyrin. The X-ray structure of Selena p-benziporphyrin revealed that the macrocycle was almost planar apart from the p-phenylene ring, which was deviated by 49.71° from the mean plane of the macrocycle defined by four meso carbons, unlike Selena m-benziporphyrin, which is relatively more distorted. NMR studies revealed that, as the core changes from C2N3 to C2NSN, C2NSeN, and C2NTeN, the diatropic ring current decreases, indicating that the aromatic character also decreases in the same order. X-ray structure and DFT studies also revealed that the distortion in the macrocycle increases as the pyrrole ring of p-benziporphyrin was replaced with other heterocycles such as furan, thiophene, selenophene, and tellurophene and that the tellura p-benziporphyrin was the most distorted macrocycle among core-modified p-benziporphyrins. Absorption and electrochemical properties were in agreement with these observations. Our repeated attempts on metalation of these p-benziporphyrins resulted in the successful synthesis of a Pd(II) complex of tellura p-benziporphyrin. The Pd(II) complex was characterized by HR-MS and NMR techniques, and the structure was optimized by DFT. The studies indicated that the Pd(II) ion was bonded to one of the pyrrolic nitrogens, tellurophene, tellurium, and two chloride ions in distorted square-planar geometry.

Ruthenium(II) and Ruthenium(III) Complexes of p-Benziporphyrin: Merging Equatorial and Axial Organometallic Coordination.

A diamagnetic ruthenium(II) complex of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-p-benziporphyrin [RuII(p-BzP)(CO)Cl] was obtained via the insertion of ruthenium into p-benziporphyrin using triruthenium(0) dodecacarbonyl [Ru3(CO)12] as the metal source. The procedure applying dichloro(cycloocta-1,5-diene)ruthenium(II) (polymer, [Ru(COD)Cl2]n) afforded the paramagnetic six-coordinate ruthenium(III) p-benziporphyrin [RuIII(p-BzP)Cl2]. As shown by X-ray crystallography, the p-phenylene ring in both complexes is sharply tilted out of the N3 plane, as reflected by the respective N3 (pyrrole)-C6 (p-phenylene) dihedral angle [RuII(p-BzP)(CO)Cl, 52.5°; RuIII(p-BzP)Cl2, 53.7°]. p-Phenylene is bound to the ruthenium cation in an η2 fashion, revealing the shortest ever Ru-C distance in the series of p-benziporphyrin complexes [RuII(p-BzP)(CO)Cl, 2.275(2) Å; RuIII(p-BzP)Cl2, 2.324(5) Å]. The reaction of RuII(p-BzP)(CO)Cl with ArMgCl or AlkMgCl results in the formation of diamagnetic six-coordinate ruthenium(II) p-benziporphyrin complexes containing the apically coordinated σ-alkyl or σ-aryl ligands, where the metal ion simultaneously coordinates to three carbon centers respectively accommodating η2 (phenylene) and σ (aryl and alkyl) modes. Reactions of σ-aryl (alkyl) carbanions with paramagnetic RuIII(p-BzP)Cl2 have been followed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The procedure afforded the six-coordinate paramagnetic ruthenium(III) p-benziporphyrin [RuIII(p-BzP)(Ph)Cl], which binds one σ-aryl ligand, as reflected by the characteristic 1H NMR spectra spread within the +120 to -120 ppm range. Both paramagnetic complexes RuIII(p-BzP)(Ph)Cl and RuIII(p-BzP)(p-Tol)Cl are formed as a mixture of two stereoisomers differentiated by two nonequivalent locations of σ-aryl with respect to the puckered macrocyclic ring. The paramagnetic shifts of σ-aryls are indicative of π-spin delocalization patterns. Analysis of the contact shifts and parallel density functional theory calculations of the spin density distribution in RuIII(p-BzP)Cl2, RuIII(p-BzP)(Ar)Cl, and RuIII(p-BzP)(Alk)Cl reflect the features of the dxy2(dxzdyz)3 electronic ground state.

Theoretical analysis of structural diversity of covalent organic framework: Stacking isomer structures thermodynamics and kinetics

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted much interest due to their utility as functional materials. Unfortunately, experimental synthesis struggles with low single crystallinity of COFs. We have theoretically investigated isomer structures of a representative two-dimensional COF for both monolayer and three-dimensional stacking orders. We show that rotations of p-phenylene rings are common in monolayers, however, affect the global stacking order substantially. We also discuss the discrepancy between powder X-ray diffraction patterns corresponding to the structures predicted by our calculations and those experimentally observed. The discrepancy demonstrates the importance of dynamics in the self-assembly process of COF organic components.

A Macrocyclic 1,4-Diketone Enables the Synthesis of a p-Phenylene Ring That Is More Strained than a Monomer Unit of [4]Cycloparaphenylene.

The synthesis of a p-terphenyl-based macrocycle, containing a p-phenylene unit with 42.6 kcal/mol of strain energy (SE), is reported. The conversion of a macrocyclic 1,4-diketone to a highly strained arene system takes place over five synthetic steps, featuring iterative dehydrative reactions in the aromatization protocol. Spectroscopic data of the deformed benzenoid macrocycle are in excellent agreement with other homologues that have been reported, indicating that the central p-phenylene ring of 9 is aromatic.

Synthesis and Characterization of [n]CPP (n = 5, 6, 8, 10, and 12) Radical Cation and Dications: Size-Dependent Absorption, Spin, and Charge Delocalization.

Radical cations and dications of [n]cyclo-p-phenylenes ([n]CPPs, n = 5, 6, 10, and 12), which are the models of those of linear oligo-p-phenylenes without a terminus, were synthesized as hexafluoroantimonate salts by the one- and two-electron chemical oxidation of CPP by NOSbF6 or SbF5. The radical cations, [n]CPP(•+), and dications, [n]CPP(2+), exhibited remarkable bathochromic shifts in their UV-vis-NIR absorption bands, suggesting that [n]CPP(•+) and larger [n]CPP(2+) exhibit longer polyene character than the shorter analogues. The larger bathochromic shift was consistent with the narrower HOMO-SOMO and HOMO-LUMO gaps in larger [n]CPP(•+) and [n]CPP(2+), respectively. In [n]CPP(•+), the spins and charges were equally and fully delocalized over the p-phenylene rings of the CPPs, as noted by ESR. (1)H NMR revealed that the hydrogen of [n]CPP(2+) shifted to a high magnetic field from the neutral compounds due to the diamagnetic ring current derived from the in-plane aromaticity of [n]CPP(2+). The single resonances observed in all [n]CPP(2+) strongly suggest the complete delocalization of the charges over the CPPs. Furthermore, the contribution of biradical character was clarified for [10]- and [12]CPP by VT-NMR experiment and theoretical calculation.

Confined Polymerization in Highly Ordered Mesoporous Organosilicas.

Hybrid mesoporous organosilica exhibiting crystal-like order in the walls provided an ideal channel reaction vessel for the confined polymerization of acrylonitrile (PAN). The resulting high-molecular-mass PAN fills the channels at high yield and forms an ordered nanostructure of polymer nanobundles enclosed into the hybrid matrix. The in situ thermal transformation of PAN into rigid polyconjugated and, eventually, into condensed polyaromatic carbon nanofibers, retains the periodic architecture. Simultaneously, the matrix evolves showing the fusion of the p-phenylene rings and the cleavage of carbonsilicon bonds: this gives rise to graphitic-carbon/silica nanocomposites containing hyper-oxydrylated silica nanophases. Interestingly, the 3D hexagonal mesostructure survives in the carbonaceous material. The exploitation of porous materials of high capacity and a hybrid nature, for polymerization in the confined state, followed by high temperature treatments, allowed us to achieve unique and precisely fabricated nanostructures, thus paving the way for the construction of fine-tuned electronic and light-harvesting materials.

An investigation into the relationship between processing, structure and properties for high-modulus PBO fibres: part 3: analysis of fibre microstructure using transmission electron microscopy

A detailed morphological study of the microstructure of poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibres (HM and HM+) and a polypyridobisimidazole (PIPD) (HT) fibre has been undertaken using transmission electron microscopy. Both PBO and PIPD fibres are composed of rigid-rod polymers having p-phenylene rings in the molecular backbone and show high modulus (280–360 GPa) and high strength (4–6 GPa). It is found that the PBO HM+ fibre has the highest degree of molecular orientation of the three fibres and the longest crystal length along the fibre axis, while the PIPD fibre shows a lower degree of orientation and a shorter crystal length than the PBO fibres. To understand the effect of crystalline size and fine structure of the fibres upon mechanical properties, dark-field and high-resolution lattice images were obtained and analysed in detail.

Ultrafast Conformational Dynamics of Electron Transfer in ExBox4+⊂Perylene

Multielectron acceptors are essential components for artificial photosynthetic systems that must deliver multiple electrons to catalysts for solar fuels applications. The recently developed boxlike cyclophane incorporating two extended viologen units joined end-to-end by two p-phenylene linkers-namely, ExBox(4+)-has a potential to be integrated into light-driven systems on account of its ability to complex with π-electron-rich guests such as perylene, which has been utilized to great extent in many light-harvesting applications. Photodriven electron transfer to ExBox(4+) has not previously been investigated, however, and so its properties, following photoreduction, are largely unknown. Here, we investigate the structure and energetics of the various accessible oxidation states of ExBox(4+) using a combination of spectroscopy and computation. In particular, we examine photoinitiated electron transfer from perylene bound within ExBox(4+) (ExBox(4+)⊂perylene) using visible and near-infrared femtosecond transient absorption (fsTA) spectroscopy. The structure and conformational relaxation dynamics of ExBox(3+)⊂perylene(+) are observed with femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS). From the fsTA and FSRS spectra, we observe that the central p-phenylene spacer in one of the extended viologen units on one side of the cyclophane becomes more coplanar with its neighboring pyridinium units over the first ∼5 ps after photoreduction. When the steady-state structure of chemically generated ExBox(2+) is investigated using Raman spectroscopy, it is found to have the central p-phenylene rings in both of its extended viologen units rotated to be more coplanar with their neighboring pyridinium units, further underscoring the importance of this subunit in the stabilization of the reduced states of ExBox(4+).

Synthesis of ExnBox Cyclophanes

A rapid and efficient synthesis of the extended bipyridinium-based class of cyclophanes--that is, Ex(n)Box(4+) (n = 0-3), where n is the number of p-phenylene rings inserted between the pyridinium rings--is demonstrated, resulting in much higher yields of products along with a reduced output of oligomeric byproducts. Although each cyclophane can be synthesized readily without the use of a precise stoichiometric amount of template, ExBox(4+) can be prepared in 66% yield (following crystallization) using six equivalents of pyrene in a template-directed protocol. This new methodology has been employed to synthesize, in modest yield, a nearly 2.5 nm long cyclophane consisting of 12 aromatic rings.

Photoinduced Electron Transfer across Oligo-p-phenylene Bridges. Distance and Conformational Effects in Ru(II)−Rh(III) Dyads

A series of rodlike ruthenium(II)-rhodium(III) polypyridine dyads based on modular oligo-p-phenylene bridges, of the general formula [(Me2phen)2Ru-bpy-(ph)n-bpy-Rh(Me2bpy)]5+ (Me2phen=4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline; bpy=2,2'-bipyridine; ph=1,4-phenylene; n=1-3), have been synthesized and their photophysical properties investigated. The dyad [(Me2bpy)2Ru-bpy-(ph)3'-bpy-Rh(Me2bpy)]5+ with the central phenylene unit bearing two hexyl chains has also been studied. The metal-to-metal distance reaches 24 A for the longest (n=3) spacer in the series. For all of the dyads in a room-temperature CH3CN solution, quenching of the typical metal-to-ligand charge-transfer luminescence of the Ru-based chromophoric unit is observed, indicating that an efficient intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer from the excited Ru moiety to the Rh-based unit takes place. The rate constants for the electron-transfer process have been determined by time-resolved emission and absorption spectroscopy in the nanosecond and picosecond time scale. An exponential dependence of experimental transfer rates on the bridge length is observed, consistent with a superexchange mechanism. An attenuation factor beta of 0.65 A(-1) is determined, in line with the behavior of other systems containing oligo-p-phenylene spacers. Interestingly, for n=3, the presence/absence of hexyl substituents in the central p-phenylene ring causes a 10-fold difference in the rates between otherwise identical dyads. This comparison highlights the importance of the twist angle between adjacent spacers on the overall through-bond donor-acceptor coupling.

Structural Characterization of Quaterphenyl Cation Radical: X-ray Crystallographic Evidence of Quinoidal Charge Delocalization in Poly-p-phenylene Cation Radicals

Quaterphenyl derivative (QP) containing tert-butyl solubilizing groups at the terminal positions yields a stable cation radical salt that was isolated, and its structure was established by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure of neutral QP and its cation radical (QP+•SbCl6-) provides unequivocal evidence for the quinoidal stabilization of the cationic charge or polaron by smoothing out the torsional motion of the interconnected p-phenylene rings. Such an observation of stabilization of the cationic charge in a poly-p-phenylene (PPP) derivative forms the basis for the noted high conductivities in PPP oligomers in their doped state.

Suitanes

Suitanes

Interfacial micromechanics of technora fibre/epoxy composites

The application of Raman spectroscopy using a near-infrared laser (IR) for the study of the deformation micromechanics of Technora fibres and single Technoras fibre embedded in epoxy composites is reported. The shift with strain of the Raman band approximately at 1613 cm−1 corresponding to p-phenylene ring deformation is studied. It is shown that the shift of the Raman band can be used to monitor the deformation micromechanics of the Technora/epoxy composites allowing the interfacial shear stress (ISS) to be determined. It was found that the maximum ISS was close to the shear yield stress of the resin indicating that there is good adhesion between the Technora fibres and the epoxy resin matrix.

Quadratic Hyperpolarizability of Carbomeric Structures

The ZINDO-computed quadratic hyperpolarizability (β) of p-nitroaniline (PNA) is compared with that of its carbomer in its molecular mechanics (MM) optimized geometry. Complete carbomerization of PNA leads to a new molecule with a static β0 value of 941.3 × 10-30 cm5 esu-1 which is 2 orders of magnitude better than that of PNA. Within the model of push−pull molecular topography, an empirical five-parameter formula is proposed in order to estimate the β value of 32 partial carbomer structures of p-nitroaniline. A compromise between high β values and a priori synthetic feasability is achieved for structures with three carbomerized domains only: the carbon skeleton of the p-phenylene ring, the nitro group, and the phenylene−nitro bond. The results are discussed within the framework of the two-level model on the basis of an orbital analysis. A relevant measure of the molecular NLO response is proposed to be the “specific quadratic hyperpolarizability”: [β] = β/N, where N is the number of non-hydrogen atoms i...

Organic light-emitting devices based on vacuum-deposited poly( p-phenylene) thin film

Organic light-emitting device with poly( p-phenylene) (PPP) is prepared by vacuum deposition with various heating rates. The structure, morphology, photoluminescence (PL), electroluminescence (EL), and current ( I)–voltage ( V)–EL characteristics have been studied by IR spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and spectrofluorophotometer. The IR spectrum gave an evidence that the vacuum-deposited PPP (vd-PPP) chain involves 8–9 p-phenylene rings, which is known to be an effective conjugation length. The onset of the EL occurs at the electric field of about 7×10 7 V/m. I– V dependence fits very well with the Fowler–Nordheim (FN) tunneling formula. The results suggest that charge carrier injection is a tunneling process through an energy barrier of about 0.6–0.8 eV in ITO/PPP/Al devices.

Pseudorotaxanes and Catenanes Containing a Redox-Active Unit Derived from Tetrathiafulvalene

Two bis(2-oxy-1,3-propylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene-containing acyclic polyethers and two macrocyclic polyethers, each incorporating one bis(2-oxy-1,3-propylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene unit and one p-phenylene ring, have been synthesized. The two acyclic polyethers are bound by cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) with pseudorotaxane geometries in solution. The two macrocyclic polyethers have been mechanically interlocked with this tetracationic cyclophane to form [2]catenanes in a kinetically controlled self-assembly process. The X-ray crystallographic analysis of one of the two [2]catenanes and 1H-NMR-spectroscopic studies of both compounds showed that the p-phenylene ring of the macrocyclic polyether is located inside the cavity of the tetracationic cyclophane, while the bis(2-oxy-1,3-propylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene unit resides alongside. The [2]pseudorotaxanes and [2]catenanes show broad bands around 780 nm, arising from the charge-transfer (CT) interaction between the electron-donor tetrathiafulvalene-(TTF-)type unit and the electron-acceptor units of the tetracationic cyclophane. 1H-NMR-spectroscopic studies have shown that the [2]pseudorotaxanes dissociate into their separate components upon oxidation of the TTF-type unit, as a result of disruption of the CT interaction and electrostatic repulsion between the tetracationic host and the newly formed monocationic guest. The subsequent reduction of the guest to its neutral state affords back the pseudorotaxane-type complex restoring the original equilibrium. The results obtained from electrochemical experiments are consistent with the reversible, redox-driven dethreading/rethreading process observed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Variable-temperature 1H-NMR-spectroscopic investigations have revealed two dynamic processes, both involving the relative movements of the mechanically interlocked components in the [2]catenanes. The two consecutive oxidation processes involving the TTF-type unit, observed electrochemically, are displaced toward more positive potentials compared with the free cyclic polyethers. The two reversible two-electron reduction processes, characteristic of free cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene), separate into four reversible one-electron processes because of the topological difference between the “inside” and “alongside” electron-acceptor units in the [2]catenane.